Investigating Gender Inequality in Cheerleading Teams in the UK

This essay examines gender inequality within cheerleading teams in the United Kingdom. The study begins with an aim to explore this inequality and its impact, setting objectives to understand the concept, examine its effects on individuals, and suggest solutions to tackle the existing inequality. The background section reviews existing literature, highlighting the stereotype of cheerleading as a female-dominated activity and the historical association of sports with male dominance. The essay references studies that discuss the evolving nature of cheerleading in the UK, the challenges to gender stereotypes, and the importance of inclusive practices. The methodology section explains the use of qualitative research and an inductive approach, relying on secondary data from books, articles, and journals to meet the aim and answer the research questions. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of addressing gender inequality through mixed teams, policy development, and the avoidance of sexist language to foster a more equitable and inclusive environment within cheerleading.

To explore gender
inequality within
cheerleading teams in the
United Kingdom

Table of Contents
Aim and Objectives.....................................................................................................................1
Background.................................................................................................................................1
Methods.......................................................................................................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................3

Title: To explore gender inequality within cheerleading teams in the United Kingdom
Aim and Objectives
Aim: “To explore gender inequality within cheerleading teams in the United Kingdom
Objectives:
 To understand the concept of gender inequality in cheerleading team
 To examine the impact of gender inequality within cheerleading teams upon people.
 To suggest ways to tackle continued inequality seen in cheer team and stigma fixate
within this social divide.
Research question:
 What do you understand by gender inequality in cheerleading team?
 What is the impact of gender inequality within cheerleading teams upon people?
 What are the ways to tackle continued inequality seen in cheer team and stigma fixate
within this social divide?
Background
Vera-Gray and Fileborn (2018) stated that gender inequality in sports is common such
that most of the sports prefer women only as a cheerleaders and most of the boys are prefer to
play the sports games. So it is stereotype in which people think that boy's sport were wrestling
and football while female sports were cheerleading and ballet. Hence, it is analyzed that there is
a gender inequality in cheerleader, as it is consider as a female sports instead of men and that is
why, female took participation in order to encourage their team. Lansley (2017) stated that
cheerleading in UK has developed so quickly and even rules need to be more explicit about
expectation from both gender and roles in the team which is more transparent and inclusive. As
it is consider as a stereotype that female are not took participate especially in the age of 13 to 19,
while men do. That is why, for female cheerleading type of sport is more convenient and for
male, football, cricket is recommended by the society. As sports and athletics are traditionally
associated with males and manly domain and that is why, most of the women avoid to take part
in sports.
Gimenez-Nadal, Molina and Velilla (2020) stated that, cheerleading has been effectively
fighting the gender inequality gap. Cheerleading is considered to be highly sexist and and also
demeaning to the women. Cheerleading is often referred to as the feminized activity. The
cheerleader could effectively challenge the gender stereotypes. Competitive cheerleading and
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sports which is free of gender inequality must effectively comprise of the inclusive activity of
both the men and women. This way it helps in effectively building up the gender relationship
work in relation with the team. Gender based discrimination within the cheerleading team can
have negative impact and also effectively understand the relevance of the gender politics.
Ryle (2020) examined the fact that, choosing of the mixed set of teams including both
men and women is one of the key prominent measure which helps in effectively correcting the
stereotypes related with the gender inequality. It helps in effectively complying with the key
gender norms and helps in imposing the better results and outcomes. It is of crucial importance
to fight the stigma fixate within this social divide which helps in imposing better results and
improve the gender equality within the sports. Development of the gender inequality policies
and procedures is useful in preventing the gender inequality within the sports. Avoiding any sort
of sexist language is of key relevant importance because it helps in reducing the gender
discrimination and improve the outcomes. Thus, it is analysed that due to old tradition and
perspective, most of the cheerleaders are female instead of men.
Methods
For the current study, qualitative research has been chosen because it will help to
conduct the study in more detail manner. Further, inductive research approach has been used in
which interpretation of the key element is taken that assist to meet the define aim. Moreover, the
data collection method chosen for the study is only secondary study, in which relevant books,
articles and journals are selected related to gender inequality within cheerleading the teams so
that actual data is used to meet the aim (Ghauri, Grønhaug and Strange, 2020). On the other side,
scholar also uses already conduct research paper based upon the topic in which both primary and
secondary data collection methods are chosen that assist to meet the define aim and answer the
research questions as well.
Also, with the help of secondary research, investigator conduct the study in more quickly
and find the answer easily but it is time consuming while if primary research is also used by the
scholar than broader range of results are generated. Hence, through these methods, researcher
conduct the study in better manner and able to accomplish the define aim as well.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ghauri, P., Grønhaug, K. and Strange, R., 2020. Research methods in business studies.
Cambridge University Press.
Gimenez-Nadal, J.I., Molina, J.A. and Velilla, J., 2020. Should We Cheer Together? Gender
Differences in Instantaneous Well-Being during Joint and Solo Activities(No. 13306).
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
Lansley, S., 2017. Tackling Inequality is an Economic Imperative. In Inequalities in the UK.
Emerald Publishing Limited.
Ryle, R., 2020. Throw Like a Girl, Cheer Like a Boy: The Evolution of Gender, Identity, and
Race in Sports. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Vera-Gray, F. and Fileborn, B., 2018. Recognition and the harms of'Cheer Up'. Philosophical
journal of conflict and violence.2(1). pp.78-96.
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